Crochet storage hanger

I started an experiment last night, and finished it today.  A hanging organizer with pockets.  Design limited by my quantity of yarn!

I don't know why the picture is flipped on its side.   I can't see how to fix it using the phone app.

Anyhow...

It's made with more mill end cotton I had left over from another project, and a 5mm hook.  The main panel was started with 40 foundation single crochet stitches, then one row of sc.  After that, I did linen stitch for a total of 75 rows.

My intention had been to make 3 pocket panels done the same way as the back panel.  The smallest one, at 20 rows.  Row 19 was done in contrasting white, then the last row in green in sc only.  I had just dropped the green strand when adding the white, so the last 2 rows are working in the same direction. 

The second panel was done the same way, except for 25 rows instead of 20.

I had intended to make a larger panel for the last pocket, but realized I did not have enough yarn.  I decided to fold up the bottom of the back panel insert, so I added a contrasting row of slip stitch in white, on the "back" of the bottom edge.

The smallest pocket panel was sewn on at the bottom only, with the top lined up a few rows from the top of the back panel.  The second pocket panel was sewn along the bottom only, with the top lined up to just barely overlap the first pocket panel's sewn in base 

Then the back panel was folded up to form the third pocket.  Starting from the newly formed bottom corner, I used sc to join the edges along one side, working through three layers where the bottom pocket overlapped the middle pocket, all the way to the top, then kept going around the top and second side.   It was a bit of a challenge to keep all the rows lined uo, since I hadn't pinned anything in place.

After the three sides where edged in sc, I finished off the yarn, then went hunting.  I wanted a rod of some kind to add to the top.  I couldn't find anything appropriate, so I used a white coated wire hangar.  That was attached by laying the bottom of the hanger, upside down, behind the top row of the back panel.  I joined a new strand at one corner and worked a row of sc, encasing the hanger wire in the stitches.  At then end, I turned the corner and kept going down the side, across the folded bottom, back up the other side, then across the top, working into the stitches around the wire, to make a second row of sc across the hanger before tying it off.

Once that was done, I felt the middle pocket top edge was too floppy, so I sewed a few stitches at the middle to secure it and make it into a pair of smaller pockets.

I'm rather pleased with the experiment.   Ideally, there would be a rod at the base to stabilize it a bit, but I don't have anything suitable to use.  I think it will still work fine.

The linen stitch makes for a softer, more flexible fabric.  It could easily be made sturdier by doing it all in just sc.  That woukd have used up my yarn a lot faster, though.  I think the nect time I get some cheap mill end cotton again, I'll try it that way, next.

Many little things

My convelescence continues, and I have been trying to keep my hands busy.  I've been working my way through the two colours of mill end cotton yarn I have handy.  The things I have been making are small, so I'm not going through the yarn very quickly.

I broke out a double ended crochet hook and worked up this pot holder.

The result is quite thick and flexible.

There is quite a lot of stretch to it, too.  I've made others in the past that were far denser and less flexible.  Same doubled ended hook to make them, and the same weight of cotton yarn, as far as I can remember, so they should have been the same.  Perhaps my own tension was simply more relaxed. 

Then I played around to make a small drawstring bag.

It's maybe 2 inches across the bottom, and barely 4 inches high.

The cord is just chain stitch with two strands.  I like it, but have no idea what I would use it for.

Then I used an Afghan hook to make another potholder, with the teal bordered in rounds of sc in the white.  I couldn't sleep last night, so a made another, reversing the colours, to match.

Here is how the backs look.

Tunisian stitch tends to curl, and still wants to, even with the borders.  I added a round of slip stitch where the colours meet, to further reinforce the border.

Our crocheted dishcloths have been finally wearing out, so I made a couple in linen stitch.

There is little difference between front and back.

Just the sc border has a defined front and back, and the dishes don't care.

Then there is this little group.

The round coaster is as basic as they come.  A flat disk done in sc and DC stitches.

The square coaster is double thickness.  Sc rounds done, without any increases or decreases, around a foundation stitch chain.  The "bag" naturally closes in on itself as it gets taller.  Once it's tall enough that the edges meet in the middle, I sewed it closed with a contrasting blanket stitch.  I've made larger versions of these, and they make great trivets, and I would close them with a crocheted slip stitch but, at this size, it was easier to use a needle. 

The tawashi dishcloth is something I finished just before I started this post.  The last ones I made wore out long ago, and I do like their function compared to flat dishcloths.

Here are the backs of the coasters, and the tucked in tawashi.  I could have added more rows so it could lie flat, but I like this size and shape.

I still have more of this yarn left.  I realized I have another ball of the white with an unfinished water bottle holder attached that I started whike working the market this past summer.  I will dig that out, next, and finish it.  Then see what other yarn I've got laying about and think of other things to crochet.  

Or maybe another craft I can do while in my cat free zone recovery space. 😂  We can't keep the cats (mostly rescued yard cats we've been trying to adopt) out of my bedroom.  If I close my door, they literally try to tear it apart to get in.  I normally would not mind their company.  I rather enjoy being cuddled by them when I sleep.  What I can't risk is having them climb up onto my abdomen, or parkour off my belly, like they sometimes do.  That could cause serious problems with my internal stitches!  Our living room is our cat free zone, which means it's where we shove things that needs to be protected from cat damage.  Which currently includes me. 😆  I sleep on the couch and work on the coffee table, for now.  Crochet is the most portable and flexible craft for this.  Or knitting, if I were a knitter.

Speaking of which, one of my daughters is a knitter.  She is currently working on ankle socks with glitter yarn in Christmas colours for me.  I quite look forward to when they are done!

So this is how I've been spending my time, and will be for another 4 weeks or so.  I feel quite well, and the family has been very stern about making sure I don't start doing things I'm banned from during recovery.   Which means my daughters have taken over the outside winterizing and garden tending.  I need to do crafting or I will go stir crazy with wanting to be working outside! 😆 🤣 

A sturdy bowl

One thing about being in recovery and feeling really good.  I've done more crochet in the past few days than I have been able to, in ages.

I have mill end cotton yarn in two colours right now.  After whipping up a little critter last night, I decided to make a bowl.  Two strands of yarn and a 6mm hook, working only in sc, makes for a sturdy little bowl.

This was worked in a spiral, starting with a flat disc until it was as wide as I wanted.  I worked the sides straight for a few rounds, then made two decreases, opposite each other, before continuing without anymore changes.

To reinforce the edge, I working one last sc round over the previous round to encase it.  At the end of the round, I continued,  working slip stitches under the top V loops of the last sc round.  The slip stitches should reduce any stretching and help maintain a sturdy edge that shouldn't flop around much at all.

I am happy with it.  

Little critter

I had some safety eyes and a small handful of fiber fill.  So I made this.

Because I could. 😆

Crochet hanging bag

I am currently under significant mobility instructions after undergoing abdominal surgery that turned out to be more complex then expected. 

The restrictions are quickly becoming a challenge, because I'm feeling better now, just 5 days after surgery, than I've felt in a long time.  I'm being good, though.  Mostly because my husband and daughters know me very well and are keeping their eyes on me. 😁

During the summer, I started on a simple project, while working a table at a farmer's market.  Something that could be worked in 30C heat.  It was set aside when the market was done, and I fished it out, a few days ago.

It was inspired by something I saw on Pinterest.   A hanging bag made from a basic triangle, with the bottom corners folded in by thirds and stitched closed. 

I chose some mill end, medium weight, cotton yarn I had, and a 5mm hook.

Of course, I changed it up a bit, from the vague instructions I saw on Pinterest.   I used solid single crochet to make the triangle, rather than linen stitch.  To make the point, I worked 1sc, 2ch, 1sc into the 2ch of the previous row.

The bottom, I noticed, was not going to form straight without increases at each corner.  Not at every row, though.  Mostly, I did increases at every other row. 

The bottom was still a bit wonky, though, but that got cleaned up.  Once I was satisfied with the size of the triangle, I did the last row's point as a loop of 10ch for the hanger.  On reaching the corner of that last row, I turned to work a row of sc along the bottom and continued, working in rounds.  On reaching the chained loop in this first round, I stabilized it by slip stitching across the point below it.  In the next round, I worked 20sc over the 10ch loop.

On finishing and tying off the kast round, I folded the corners in, in thirds, making it as even as possible.   The bottom was sewn closed with a running stitch through the 3 layers of fabric, from the folded corner to the corner with a point on top.  Then I continued stitching up the edge, to secure the overlapping fabric.  Once at the V formed in the middle, I sewed a few stitches around the join to further strength and secure it.  Last of all, I turned it inside out to sew in the loose ends.

This is the final result.

At some point, I will get my daughters to find a place to hang it and test it out.

I think I am happy with it.  If I were to change anything, it would be to make a bigger triangle to form a wider bag.  The cotton yarn in single crochet makes for a stiff fabric sturdy bag.  Changing the yarn, the stitch pattern, or even a larger hook, would make for a more flexible bag and softer drape.  It all comes down to what's needed for how it will be used.

It's definitely a very basic pattern, and easy to make.  

Supplies in

Yesterday, while on my way to a doctor's appointment, we were able to stop at the post office to pick up a parcel.  My bead supply order was in!  This is what I got.

It's actually two orders.  The small case on the bottom right has two bobbins of beading thread, one white, one black.

The kit I ordered (not an affiliate link) has the case of glass seed beads (upside down, as they were easier to see), two rolls of clear elastic beading thread, a bag of jump rings and a bag of findings and charms.  The title says needles included, but the description doesn't, and I haven't seen any in the kit, yet.  I have bead needles, though.  

I'm glad I ordered the separate bobbins of thread (not an affiliate link), as I'm looking to do some peyote stitch bead weaving, and elastic thread is not good for that.  This is something I've done before, a very long time ago.  I'd made small treasure bag necklaces, rings, bracelets and quite enjoyed the process.  My problem was the seed beads that were available.  They tended to not be consistent in size, resulting in misshapen weaves and designs.  The only brands of seed beads that were uniform were not available locally, and were expensive to order in.

How times have changed!  I haven't opened any individual bags, yet, but these should be uniform in size.

Along with peyote stitch weaving, I expect to use this kit for some of the Christmas ornaments I'm planning on making, though those plans may need to change.  I got a diagnosis at the doctor's yesterday.  Endometrial cancer.  I should be getting a full hysterectomy within the month, with further testing in between to determine what stage it's in.  It should be early enough that the surgery will be all I need, but I'm having to be referred to specialists in the city that have the equipment to do the required testing.  Which is unfortunate, because I really like the doctor that the ER was able to contact to see me on short notice.  That and her clinic and the hospital she works in are in a nearer, smaller city and much easier to get to.  Ah, well.  It is what it is.  Between that and medical appointments for my daughters, plus managing pain, I don't know how much time I'll have for anything, never mind crafting!  Still, I am not able to do the outside work I would normally be doing this time of year, and the lack of activity is driving me stir crazy.  I don't quite have all the materials I need, yet, but I should have enough to get started, at least.

We shall see.

For now, I'm looking forward to getting back into crafts I've enjoyed in the past.

A quick note

So... crafting has not been happening much of late!

For the past few years, it has simply been a matter of time and the effects of manual labour on my hands.  It's rather hard to crochet, for example, when your skin is so rough that yarn snags on it and pulls right off the hook - and yes, even with the use of hand lotion.

Other things have changed.  I am now officially considered disabled, though my physical disability usually means needing to sometimes use a cane or a walker, or having trouble sleeping due to pain.

More recently, I had some very strange things going wrong and, before my referral to a specialist went through, I ended up in the ER, then had surgery, then back in the ER.  I will probably be getting more surgery, though when and what kind will depend on test results.

It has meant, however, that I am severely restricted when it comes to physical activity.  

It's driving me nuts.  I loved the work I was doing outside.  Manual labour feels good!

Depending on how things do, though, I might be able to increase my crafting again, if only to do something productive and not go stir crazy from imposed inactivity. 

Which means I might actually be able to start posting more frequently here again.  

We shall see how it goes!